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Olympus PEN E-PL5

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  1. User ratingsUser ratingsratings of product added by Productz users
  2. Expert ratingsExpert ratingsexperts ratings from editorial reviews
  3. Consumer ratingsConsumer ratingsratings from the biggest online stores worldwide
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  3. Poor
  4. Average
4.1
based on all reviews
User ratings:
40
4.2 out of 5
40 user ratings
5 stars
32 %
4 stars
52 %
3 stars
12 %
2 stars
2 %
1 stars
0 %
Consumer ratings:
4.4 / 5
Editorial reviews:
30
  1. See more
3.7 out of 5
13 user ratings
5 stars
46 %
4 stars
23 %
3 stars
23 %
2 stars
0 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews

Pros

  • Panasonic also offers similarly well regarded lenses
  • 8fps burst mode is very good
  • Colours are nice and neutral

Cons

  • the bulky hinged display and mode dial
  • Zoom lenses are not a strength of the micro four thirds system
  • hampered by small

Key specs

  • Live MOS
  • Four Thirds
  • 17.3x13 mm
  • 16 Mpx
  • 4608, 3456 px
  • Micro Four Thirds
  • 3.5
  • Continuous Auto Focus, Face tracking, Single Auto Focus
  • 3.0 in
  • yes

Compare technical data of the product to its category

Olympus

Olympus PEN E-PL5 - Pros & Cons

Olympus PEN E-PL5

Pros

  • Panasonic also offers similarly well regarded lenses
  • 8fps burst mode is very good
  • Colours are nice and neutral
  • the curved edges and smooth finish
  • wonderful and largely under-rated camera
  • great image quality and responsiveness - perfect
  • big-camera speed and image quality
  • quiet
  • quite durable
  • good number of the other buttons are user-configurable
  • lighter

Cons

  • the bulky hinged display and mode dial
  • Zoom lenses are not a strength of the micro four thirds system
  • hampered by small
  • squishy buttons and a tiny rear dial
  • the built-in microphones were quite susceptible to wind noise
  • Auto white balance with fluorescent lighting
  • Clip lengths are limited to 29 minutes
  • no lens fitted
  • Edge softening was detected at wider apertures and diffraction impacted
  • reviewDiscontinued: No longer produced by the manufacturer
  • Allows external flash units to be attached

Olympus PEN E-PL5 - Technical Overview

PoorAverageGoodExcellent
IconScreen size
3 in
Best:
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W710
Screen size: 6.7 in
IconISO maximum
25600
Best:
Pentax KP
ISO maximum: 819200
IconEffective pixels
16 Mpx
Best:
Hasselblad H6D-100c
Effective pixels: 100 Mpx
IconMax resolution
4608 x 3456 px
Best:
Leica M11
Max resolution: 9528 x 6328 px

Olympus - Video Reviews (5)

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Olympus PEN E-PL5 - Full Specifications

Icon
Sensor
Sensor typeLive MOS
Image sensor formatFour Thirds
Sensor size0.68 in
Sensor photo detectors17.0 Mpx
Effective pixels16.0 Mpx
Image ratio w:h4:3
Max resolution4608 x 3456 px
Other resolutions
  • 2560x1920
  • 1024x768
Icon
Optics and focus
Lens mountMicro Four Thirds
Optical zoom3.0 x
Digital zoom14.0 x
Magnification (Crop factor)2.0 x
Maximum aperture3.5
AF assist (auto-focus assist light)Lamp
Contrast autofocusyes
Autofocus in recording modeyes
Focal length multiplier2x
Autofocus
  • Continuous Auto Focus
  • Face tracking
  • Single Auto Focus
Auto Focus (AF) lockyes
Manual focusyes
Auto Focus (AF) assist beamyes
Number of focus points35
Image stabiliserBuilt-in
Filter diameter1.46 in
Phase detection autofocusno
Icon
Photography features
Minimum shutter speed60.0 s
Maximum shutter speed1.0 s
Shutter priorityyes
Aperture priorityyes
Manual exposure modeyes
Number of exposures2
Exposure compensation plus3
Exposure compensation minus-3
Expousure compensation steps
  • 1/2
  • 1/3
  • 1
Auto exposure lockyes
AE EV steps
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
  • 2/3
  • 1
Continuous shootingyes
Self-timer delay
  • 2
  • 12
Histogramyes
AE frames
  • 2
  • 3
WB Bracketing
Yes
Subject / scene modesyes
Flash sync speed1/250s
Built-in flashyes
Flash range7
Flash modes
  • Auto
  • Fill-in
  • Flash OFF
  • Manual
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Second-curtain Sync
  • Slow Sync
External flash connectionHot shoe
Flash metering systemFP-TTL
External flashyes
Continuous drive8.0 fps
Scene modes
  • Beach
  • Candlelight
  • Children
  • Close-up
  • Documents
  • Fireworks
  • Night
  • Night portrait
  • Panorama
  • Portrait
  • Snow
  • Sports
  • Sunset
  • Underwater
  • Landscape
Self-timeryes
Metering modes
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Spot
3D supportyes
Manual settingsyes
Self-timer options
  • 2
  • 12
Speed (JPEG)8.0 fps
Speed (RAW)8.0 fps
Exposure bracketing0.3 - 1.0±EV
Icon
Audio features
Built-in microphoneyes
Microphone typeStereo
Speaker typeMono
Voice recordingyes
Supported audio file formatsPCM
Icon
Dimensions
Weight9.84 oz
Width4.35 in
Height2.51 in
Depth1.5 in
Icon
Power
Power source typeBattery
Battery life (CIPA)360
Battery technology
Lithium-Ion
On/off switchyes
Icon
Other features
Timelapse recordingno
GPSno
Orientation sensoryes
Calendaryes
Energy Star certifiedno
Frameyes
Tripod mounting supportedyes
On Screen Display (OSD) languages
  • CZE
  • DAN
  • DEU
  • DUT
  • ENG
  • ESP
  • EST
  • FIN
  • FRE
  • ITA
  • LAV
  • LIT
  • NOR
  • POL
  • POR
  • RUS
  • SER
  • SLV
  • SWE
  • TUR
  • UKR
Image editing modes
  • Resizing
  • Trimming
Icon
Image
ISO
  • 200
  • 400
  • 800
  • 1600
  • 3200
  • 6400
  • 12800
  • 25600
  • Auto
ISO Autoyes
ISO minimum200
ISO maximum25600
Maximum image resolution4608 x 3456 px
White balance presets8
White balance modes
  • Auto
  • Cloudy
  • Flash
  • Fluorescent
  • Manual
  • Shade
  • Sunny
  • Tungsten
  • Underwater
Custom white balanceyes
Supported image file formats
  • JPEG
  • RAW
Photo effects
  • Art
  • Black&White
  • Muted
  • Neutral
  • Sepia
  • Vivid
Image stabilizeryes
Image stabilization typeSensor-shift
Supported aspect ratios
  • 3:2
  • 3:4
  • 4:3
  • 16:9
Uncompressed formatRAW
HDRno
AEB/HDR supportyes
Icon
Screen and viewfinder
Screen size3.0 in
Articulated LCDyes
Screen technologyLCD
Screen dots460000
Touch screenyes
Field of view100.0 %
Live viewyes
Viewfinder
Electronic
Viewfinder coverage100.0 %
Viewfinder magnification5.0 x
Separate info displayno
Icon
Videography features
Maximum resolution1920 x 1080 px
Video recordingyes
Recording resolutions
  • 640 x 480
  • 1280 x 720
  • 1920 x 1080
HD typeFull HD
Supported video file formats
  • AVI
  • H.264
  • M-JPEG
  • MOV
  • MPEG-4
Analog signal format system
  • NTSC
  • PAL
Camera playback
  • Movie
  • Single image
  • Slide show
Max resolution (highest frame rate)1920 x 1080
Max frame rate (highest resolution)30.0 fps
Max frame rate (regardless of res.)30.0 fps
Motion JPEG frame rate30.0 fps
Icon
Design
Body typeMILC
Body materialMetal
Colour of product
  • Black
  • Silver
  • White
Anti-dust systemyes
Environmentally sealedno
Icon
Storage
Compatible memory cards
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
Storage types
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
Camera file system
  • DCF 2.0
  • DPOF 1.1
  • Exif 2.2
Icon
Connectivity
Mini HDMI type-Cyes
HDMI ports quantity1
HDMI connector typeMicro
USB version2.0
WirelessEye-Fi Connected
Remote controlyes
PictBridgeyes
NFCno
Wireless network (Wi-Fi)no
Bluetoothyes
Firewireno

Olympus PEN E-PL5 - Q&A

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Olympus PEN E-PL5 Olympus - Editorial Reviews (30)

3.7
Based on 30 reviews
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
Olympus PEN E-PL5 Olympus PEN Lite E-PL5
Photo Review logo
Photo Review
Published: 11.10.2012
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL5
4.5

Sophisticated features in a lightweight and portable camera with a tilting touch screen, fast autofocusing and option for wireless connectivity.

Olympus PEN E-PL5 Olympus PEN PL5: DSLR-like quality with price and lightness of compact cameras
T3 Middle East logo
T3 Middle East
Published: 05.03.2013
Olympus PEN PL5: DSLR-like quality with price and lightness of compact cameras

New hybrid cameras (micro-four thirds, mirrorless interchangeable lens) give users DSLR-like image quality with a price (and weight) tag of a typical compact (point-and-shoot) cameras. In this video we review the Olympus PEN PL-5, a camera useable by both beginners and photogrpahy gurus, with immense bang for your buck. The video goes over the camera …

Olympus PEN E-PL5 Olympus PEN LITE E-PL5 Review
Digital Photography School logo
Digital Photography School
Published: 27.01.2013
Olympus PEN LITE E-PL5 Review
3.0

There’s one thing that Olympus has mostly got right: stylish camera designs, with clearly labelled functions and layout. However it seems like decades have been spent as the company has fumbled around with its viewfinder menu layout … and the PL5 is no exception. It is absolutely ghastly, confused and tricky to follow. Design of […]

Olympus PEN E-PL5 Olympus E-PL5 review
T3 logo
T3
Published: 04.01.2013
Olympus E-PL5 review
4.0

The Olympus E-PL5 is a 'Lite' version of the range topping Olympus OM-D

Olympus PEN E-PL5 Olympus E-PL5 Review: Top-Notch Guts In An Awkward Body
Gizmodo Australia logo
Gizmodo Australia
Published: 23.11.2012
Olympus E-PL5 Review: Top-Notch Guts In An Awkward Body

Olympus has seen great success in the mirrorless camera world with its PEN series. The line’s latest iteration is the E-PL5, a micro four thirds camera that shares a few details with its more expensive brother, the OMD-EM5. It shoots beautifully — what’s the catch? What Is It? A 16MP...

Olympus PEN E-PL5 Olympus E-PL5 Review | Camera Decision
Camera Decision logo
Camera Decision
Published: 17.09.2012
Olympus E-PL5 Review | Camera Decision
3.0

Olympus E-PL5 is a 16.0MP Entry-Level Mirrorless camera with a Four Thirds sized CMOS sensor and Micro Four Thirds mount. Read our E-PL5 review to find its pros and cons.

Olympus PEN E-PL5 Olympus PEN E-PL5 Review
Trusted Reviews logo
Trusted Reviews
Published: 11.01.2013
Olympus PEN E-PL5 Review
4.5

Is the latest PEN more than just an incremental upgrade? We find out in the What Digital Camera Olympus PEN E-PL5 review

Olympus PEN E-PL5 Olympus Pen Lite E-PL5
CNET logo
CNET
Published: 25.11.2012
Olympus Pen Lite E-PL5

Olympus has churned out a very nice camera in the form of the Pen Lite E-PL5, which will satisfy many photographers looking for an upgrade from their compact camera or smartphone.

Olympus PEN E-PL5 Olympus PEN E-PL5 Review | Digital Trends
Digital Trends logo
Digital Trends
Published: 17.02.2013
Olympus PEN E-PL5 Review | Digital Trends

Olympus PEN E-PL5 MSRP $699.99 Score Details “For users upgrading from a simple point-and-shoot to an interchangeable lens camera, the Olympus PEN Lite E-PL5 is a very good camera to transition to.” Pros Fast autofocusing system Takes very good photos Tilting screen for angled shots or self-portraits Special effects and filters allow you to take […]

Olympus PEN E-PL5 Review: Olympus PEN E-PL5
Fstoppers logo
Fstoppers
Published: 25.02.2013
Review: Olympus PEN E-PL5

In October, we had a huge month dedicated to all the great mirrorless cameras that are out there. While the Fuji X-Pro 1’s technology was promising, the Olympus OM-D E-M5 took away the best mirrorless camera award. While it’s all worth it, the OM-D E-M5 is a bit pricey, and therefore, not for everyone. So how do some of Olympus’ other cameras line up? Today, we have the PEN E-PL5.

Olympus PEN E-PL5 Review: Olympus EPL5 - The Phoblographer
The Phoblographer logo
The Phoblographer
Published: 03.12.2012
Review: Olympus EPL5 - The Phoblographer

The Olympus EPL5 is the successor to the very successful EPL3. Though it was previously stated that the camera didn't have an Anti Aliasing filter, it actually does but it is weaker than in previous cameras and so retains extra details in the images. The body is compact, sleek, and has an LCD screen that veteran photographers may actually take quite the liking to.

Olympus PEN E-PL5 Olympus E-PL5 Review: Top-Notch Guts in an Awkward Body
Gizmodo logo
Gizmodo
Published: 19.11.2012
Olympus E-PL5 Review: Top-Notch Guts in an Awkward Body

Olympus has seen great success in the mirrorless camera world with its PEN series. The line's latest iteration is the E-PL5, a micro 4/3 camera that shares a few details with its more expensive brother, the OMD-EM5. It shoots beautifully—what's the catch?

Olympus PEN E-PL5 Olympus PEN E-PL5 and PEN E-PM2 Hands-on Preview
DPReview logo
DPReview
Published: 17.09.2012
Olympus PEN E-PL5 and PEN E-PM2 Hands-on Preview

Olympus was one of the instigators of the mirrorless uprising, having formulated the Micro Four Thirds standard with Panasonic. At first it looked like Olympus might be overshadowed by Panasonic's technical prowess but a combination of its class-leading JPEG processing and pretty heritage-inspired designs meant they were able to offer something interesting. With the first PEN Mini it was also able to offer the least-expensive mirrorless model on the market, but the camera that really made us sit up was the Olympus OM-D.

Olympus PEN E-PL5 Olympus PEN E-PL5 Review - Steve's Digicams
steves-digicams.com logo
steves-digicams.com
Olympus PEN E-PL5 Review - Steve's Digicams

Review posted 12/12/2012Quick TakeProsiAuto shooting mode is accurate and easy in all situationsDedicated Video Capture Button is always ready to recordBuilt-In image stabilization works with all lenses available for the cameraGreat image quality Wireless capablilities are fun and useful3.0-inch Touch

Olympus PEN E-PL5 Olympus E-PL5 Review | Photography Blog
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photographyblog.com
Published: 29.10.2012
Olympus E-PL5 Review | Photography Blog
4.5

The Olympus E-PL5 is a new compact system camera that offers a lot more than first meets the eye. Also known as the PEN Lite, the EPL5 has exactly the same image sensor and processing engine as the flagship OM-D E-M5. It also boasts the World's fastest autofocus system, a 3 inch tilting LCD display, full 1080p HD movies, and an extensive range of creative filters. Read our in-depth Olympus E-PL5 review to find out if it's a true bargain or not...

Often compared with Olympus PEN E-PL5